Texas Business Court Closes Door to Employment Disputes

The Texas Business Court won’t involve itself in employment actions from top executives, it said in finding that the termination of an ExxonMobil Corp. vice president isn’t in the range of disputes it was set up to decide.

Judge Patrick Sweeten on Friday denied Exxon’s request he hear a lawsuit from a Black employee claiming CEO Darren Woods’ decision to dismiss him was an act of racial discrimination.

Employment actions aren’t a matter involving the company’s internal affairs or governance, Sweeten said, kicking the case back to a Texas district court.

The decision comes long after the specialized court, which ...